A Review of Children's Book "Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully" by Julianne Moore

As a grandmother for eight years and a soon-to-be-RE-grandmother later this fall, I can say that Julianne Moore's "Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully" will charm the young reader and mature reader alike.

Insightful and thought-provoking, the tale of Freckleface Strawberry is one many children will connect with. Fretting and worry aren't solely adult emotions, no. Many children facing real-life struggles such as the introduction into larger social networks, networks like school, will relate to the troubles faced by Freckleface Strawberry as she goes head-to-head with Windy Pants Patrick.

Not only will the reader enjoy the story but also the fabulous illustrations by LeUyen Pham who graduated from the Art Center College later moving on to work at DreamWorks Feature Animation before finally becoming a full-time artist.

A tale of strength and acceptance, "Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully" is a lovely story for children, of course, but also for any person who loves a tale that is well-written and told beautifully.

"Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully" by Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry on Being a Writer

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFcob8mRtec

Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry About Reading

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rboRF5ipxPU

Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry About being a Redhead with Freckles

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JZYtwEpdbs

Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry on Writing Children's Books

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NlGFJW7AbQ

Julianne Moore on the Name "Freckleface Strawberry"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvFlqKdaogs

Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry on Balancing Family and Career

www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4koJKpoNxc

THE FOUR-TIME ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE AND HER SPUNKY, PICTURE BOOK STAR DODGE A BULLY

Acclaimed actress, and now beloved picture book author JULIANNE MOORE and bestselling illustrator LeUyen Pham join talents again for FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY AND THE DODGEBALL BULLY. This time, their perky, loveable seven-year-old encounters a bully on the playground—Windy Pants Patrick—during a game of dodgeball. As the brute prepares to hurl his might at Freckleface and her friends, she must figure out how to summon the courage to stand up to him. Ms. Moore tackles this all-to- prevalent problem with both humor and grace.

It is Ms. Moore’s infusion of hilarity and heart that has won her praise from booksellers, educators, reviewers—and most importantly young readers!—for her debut picture book Freckleface Strawberry, a charming tale inspired by a childhood experience.

Nicknamed Freckleface Strawberry when she a young girl, Ms. Moore disliked the title as much as she disliked her red hair and freckles. “As a child, my hatred of my freckles was only matched by my love of reading,” said the author, who eventually grew to tolerate her red hair and freckles and find amusement in telling her own kids about her childhood nickname. Dodgeball isn’t based on personal experience, but creating a feisty character who makes the best of a bad situation—and does so with style and wit—is essential to Ms. Moore.

Julianne Moore is U. S. Ambassador for Save the Children working with children and families in rural areas, focusing on literacy and early childhood education. She successfully launched the Save the Children Valentine program in 2008 whereby children’s book illustrators donated art work for cards, with the proceeds benefiting poverty in the United States. She is also a member of Reach Out and Read, a children’s literacy organization dedicated to educating parents on the importance of reading to their children, as well as an acclaimed actress who has appeared in such movies as The Hours, Far from Heaven, The End of the Affair, and Boogie Nights. Ms Moore was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting from Boston University’s School of the Performing Arts. She now lives with her husband and children in New York City.

Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully by Julianne Moore

Now Available on Amazon.com - To Order Your Copy Today - http://www.amazon.com/Freckleface-Strawberry-Dodgeball-Bully-Story/dp/1599903164

For complete tour information and the complete schedule, visit her tour home page at: http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2009/04/freckleface-strawberry-by-julianne.html

A Review of "Whale Hunting Women: How Women Do Big Deals" by Dr. Barbara Weaver Smith

Since my stint in the business world, specifically accounting, my choice has been to read fiction and, at the very least, creative nonfiction. So, turning the wheels of time back to my earlier corporate days of reading the proposal, prospectus and annual report, well, let me say, this book was difficult to jump into. I was sure "Whale Hunting Women" would be another dry "how-to" for women who want to succeed in business. As well, even the title of the book unsettled me a little.

Even so, with all these things set firmly in my psyche, I jumped in. And, the pool is delightful. Dr. Barbara Weaver Smith authors "Whale Hunting Women" with the lightest of corporate-eze. The reading is designed for a layperson, it's motivational and completely understandable.

This book, this "Whale Hunting Women," is not a lengthy dry tome of procedure for one to become more adept at doing business in the 21st century environment. No, it's short precise explanations are a pleasure to read.

Through an exquisite explanation of her chosen title Smith pits the woman in business against the whale where the whale is (metaphorically) that big deal the woman desires to add to her portfolio. Through the reading of it she explains passe' mindsets women have hardwired into them because of their gendre - that thing in the back of our minds that says "this is a man's world." She talks about undoing that hardwiring with a surgeon's precision. But, again, it's easy reading and thoroughly enjoyable.

As a writer, initially, I balked at reading this book but now, I have to say, I'm thankful I did. Weaver's book can alter your mindset and through this fresh altered mindset can create positive changes, changes that are completely translatable into ANYone's work - even mine. Let me just say one more thing, "Whale Hunting Women" is going to be a book I keep close at hand on my desk next to me as I go through my day. I love the message and the writing style. I love the easy practices at the end of each chapter. They are fun and interactive.

So, kudos Dr. Barbara Weaver Smith. I can't wait to begin implementing the practices in your book.

To learn about Whale Hunting Women & to order your copy today, visit http://cli.gs/WHWEbook
Thank you for visiting this post about Barbara Weaver Smith and Whale Hunting Women. Two people who comment during the tour will be entered a giveaway – post a comment on any post about the tour and you will be entered. The winners will win a three-volume audio set of Whale Hunters Wisdom. Volumes include I: Mind of a Hunter, II: The Hunt, and III: The Whale Hunting Culture ($90 value). Barbara Weaver Smith’s website - http://www.thewhalehunters.com/
Barbara Weaver Smith’s blog - http://blog.thewhalehunters.com/
Order your copy of Whale Hunting Women – http://cli.gs/WHWEbook
To see the tour schedule visit http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2009/04/whale-hunting-with-barbara-weaver-smith.html

"Whale Hunting Women" by Dr. Barbara Weaver Smith

Due to an extremely busy book tour of my own and after a little respite from blogging this month, I'm excited to host a visit by Barbara Weaver Smith on her blog tour for her book entitled "Whale Hunting Woman."




About Barbara Weaver Smith
Barbara Weaver Smith is the president and CEO of The Whale Hunters, is an author, consultant, speaker, and coach. Barbara held positions as an English professor, a college dean, and a nonprofit organization president before founding her first company in 1996. Informed by her leadership experiences in all economic sectors, Barbara’s mission is to support women to achieve exceptional growth in their companies and organizations by doing bigger deals with bigger customers and partners.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Barbara Weaver Smith will be offering workshops in the following cities:

2009 Workshops and Events
In Phoenix, Arizona
May 19 - Whale Hunting - Vistage member-only workshop

May 20 - Whale Hunting - Vistage member-only workshop

May 21 - Whale Hunting - Vistage member-only workshop

In Indianapolis, Indiana
June 4 - Whale Hunting Women Summit - Indianapolis, IN - Open Registration

In Phoenix, Arizona - June 10 - Whale Hunting in Rough Waters - Women Presidents Organization members-only

June 15 - Reception - Business Clubs of America members-only

June 16 - Whale Hunting Introduction - Business Clubs of America-members & guests

As you can see Ms. Weaver Smith is very busy this season but hopes to talk with you about her organization and her book.

ABOUT WHALE HUNTING WOMEN
Whale Hunting Women, a power network of women who do big deals and women who want to learn from them. Members hear and share remarkable stories from Whale Hunting Women and about Whale Hunting Women in all fields of endeavor. Whale Hunting Women celebrates and supports the women who do big deals in business and community.

Women do big deals every day – with grace, strength and passion. With teamwork and teaching and inclusion. With partners and allies and friends. Sometime we don’t think our big deals are big enough; sometimes we take them for granted.

Maybe you are wondering – why whale hunting? We founded the The Whale Hunters based on true stores of how the Inuit people of the far northwest coast of Alaska hunted whales, early each spring. Theirs is a remarkable story of courage, preparation, and collaboration. Everyone in the village took part; everyone had an essential role. In a tiny boat they set out to land the largest creature on earth. Why did they take these risks? Because a whale would feed their village for an entire year!

In June 2008, the inaugural Whale Hunting Women event occurred in Indianapolis. Over 180 women joined together to launch Whale Hunting Women and learned:

• What is whale hunting? A powerful metaphor and how-to process for doing big deals in business and community.
• Why women’s talents and preferences make them such good whale hunters?
• How to apply
• The Whale Hunting Process to succeed big deals in business and community
  Motivational stories from Whale Hunting Women, including Lyn St. James, Indianapolis 500 driver and Indiana Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman
• How to fully utilize the Whale Hunting Women network for learning, support, and motivation

Aging, Time & What's It All About, Anyway?

My aching back!

When my husband left for a nephew's wedding in Tacoma this past grey Saturday, I conjured up tons of things to do for the tomorrow...

While I doddered about feeling unenergetic, I decided that because it was Saturday I really didn't need any agenda, that I could take the day off if I wanted. The husband was gone and there was no one to answer to. I didn't have to clean, do laundry or run to the grocers.

I lazed about all day visiting every room in the house and looking at each. Planning what to do tomorrow...

Saturday I spent in blissful nothingness, snacking, making orange-essence water in a jug, refreshing animal water & food bowls, peering into rooms expecting and waiting for tomorrow.

Sunday came on like a firecracker! The sun was shining, it was my mother's birthday, a chocolate pudding cake was in the refrigerator, I felt energized and alive. In a flurry of vigor, I jumped from the bed.

I swept the cat room and pergola. I swept the porches off, moved the picnic table and benches from under shelter to an open spot on the back deck. The toilets came next and after those I vacuumed the house, wiped down counters and furniture and did a few loads of laundry - 6 to be exact! Since before my "Bobby's Diner" book tour, the closet had needed a good thrashing about in and so I rearranged all my boots, shoes, purses and clothing. After that, I cleaned the kitchen and wrapped mother's birthday presents, prepared her birthday dinner and placed the icecream cone candles into her luscious birthday cake. I ran upstairs and cleaned up, changed clothes and put on some lipstick. When the doorbell rang, the house glistened! She walked in with her little dog, Teddy and the fun began...

Mother stayed for an hour-and-a-half. When she and Teddy left it was only five-thirty, I still had about three hours of sunlight left. So, I got busy again.

I cleared the existing furniture out of the dining room and dragged our big leather sofa into it, threw down an area rug in front of it... beautiful. After arranging end tables, lamps and other decorative accesories around the sofa, I pulled our green leather comfy chair into the area and created a beautiful sitting area. It was then I placed another perfect little area rug into another sitting area nearer the kitchen. Bob, the husband, would be home in about 5 hours and I was on a race to the finish! By then, it was close to 8 p.m. and fatigue was getting the better of me.

After stopping for a bite to eat and a glass of wine, I took a steaming shower to soothe my weary bones and then the most interesting thing happened...

My back seized up so tightly that I could only shuffle my feet across the floor. When I made my way into bed, I was in agony. My body was screaming for me to quit but my mind didn't hear.

Somedays we consider the perfection of wisdom that comes with age and other days we can only see the pain!

Today, in pain, I'm speaking with you but tomorrow, well, tomorrow I'm praying for wisdom!
-Sincerely, Susan.